Little / baby / younger / kid / sister

Question

Hi teachers,Would you tell me what the difference between these phrase?1. little sister&gt;&gt;  How old would a little sister be?2. baby sister&gt;&gt;  What's a baby sister?  An infant sister?3. younger / young sister &gt;&gt; I'm very confused with these two.  I think there should more than one sister, is it correct?4. my mom's kid sister &gt;&gt;  What does this one mean?5.  When people say "grandmother; grandfather", how do you know which side of grandparents they refer to?6.  Does "granny" same as "grandmother", and "grams"?  Which side they would be referred to?Thank you.Tinanam

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

1. This is normally used of children. However, it can informally or affectionately be continued into adulthood.

2. This is normally used of babies and very young children. Again, it can informally or affectionately be continued into later childhood and adulthood.

3. "younger sister" could mean "younger than oneself" or "younger than another sister/sibling". "young sister" could mean the same thing, or might simply mean that she is not very old.

4. It probably means "My mother's sister, who is younger than my mother". "kid" normally refers to a child, but like "little" it can informally or affectionately be continued into adulthood.

5. You don't. To specify, you must say "maternal grandmother/grandfather" or "paternal grandmother/grandfather".

6. "granny" and "grams" are informal abbreviations of "grandmother". In my part of the world, "granny" is much more common.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Would you tell me what the difference between these phrase?

1. little sister

>> How old would a little sister be?

This term is mostly used by small children, so a little sister would likely be a small child.

2. baby sister

>> What's a baby sister? An infant sister?

baby sister - same comment as above.

infant sister - not a very natural or idiomatic thing to say.

3. younger / young sister

>> I'm very confused with these two. I think there should more than one sister, is it correct?

younger sister I suppose you are right in your logic, but I hear people say this when they are just thinking 'she is younger than me'.

young sister- I never hear ths phrase

4. my mom's kid sister

>> What does this one mean? The sister of my mother. This sister is a lot younger than my mother.My mother's

5. When people say "grandmother; grandfather", how do you know which side of grandparents they refer to? You don't know. And in my culture, people usually do not care.

If you wanted to make it clear, you could say 'My grandmother on my mother's side'.

6. Does "granny" same as "grandmother", Yes and "grams"? I haven't heard this

Which side they would be referred to? You don't know. And usually people don't care.

Best wishes, Clive

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you for answering my qustions. Could I ask clarification below?

CliveThis term is mostly used by small children

Clive

When you say "used by", Do you mean small children usually say "she's my little sister", and an adult

would not likely to say that?

Do "uncles" and "anuts" could also mean from both sides, mother and father?

Thank you so much.

Tinanam

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Mr Wordy,

I didn't see your answers before Clive until now. Thank you for your explanations.

Tinanam

Clive · Answer

Hi,

When you say "used by", Do you mean small children usually say "she's my little sister", and an adult

would not likely to say that? Yes

Do "uncles" and "anuts" could also mean from both sides, mother and father? Yes

Clive

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you again. I understand.

Tinanam

BarbaraPA · Answer

One additional point about aunts and uncles - we also don't distinguish whether it's your aunt or uncle by marriage either.

For example, my aunt is:
- my father's sister
- my father's brother's wife
- my mother's sister
- my mother's brother's wife

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Grammar Greek,

Thank you for your help. Would in your culture you call your father's male friends (like co-workers) "uncles", and female friends, "aunts"?

Tinanam

Ivanhr · Answer

Hi GG

Can you say aunt-in-law to make that distinction?

BarbaraPA · Answer

No, you don't.

All of those people are simply "aunts."

Little / baby / younger / kid / sister

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